Monthly Archives: January 2013

Yesterday’s visit to the Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibition at the Auckland Art Gallery has irrevocably unleashed the swingin’ rock n roll goddess within me. The premise of the exhibition rests on the importance of photography in capturing the rock n roll movement. After all, an image is concrete evidence of the events that shaped the rock n roll movement, and is thus crucial in determining how we remember and reflect on this era – the image lives on, long after the music ends.

“Rock’n’roll isn’t just a sound. It’s a look…A great Rock’n’roll photograph freezes that for all time.”

– Daily News, New York

When a song is complete and the sound is turned down, the musicians are intent on having rock n roll continue – they breathe it through their every actions – through their attitude, through their clothes, through their thoughts, and through their fans – this exhibition solidifies the crux of rock n roll in a lasting pictorial form. The photos reveal timid musicians before reaching stardom, the vulnerability of those musicians upon reaching stardom, and the fans who play an undeniable role in dictating the stars’ rise to fame and fortune.

My favourite photo was of Kurt Cobain, taken after he smashed his guitar on stage, walked off and started crying. It reveals the great interface between a confronting yet apprehensive musician – no matter how famous they become, at the end of the day they are not a star, but a human being, as susceptible to life’s dealings as you and I.

“We’re caught in a trap
I can’t walk out
Because I love you too much baby

Why can’t you see
What you’re doing to me
When you don’t believe a word I say?

We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds

So, if an old friend I know
Drops by to say hello
Would I still see suspicion in your eyes?

Here we go again
Asking where I’ve been
You can see these tears are real
I’m crying

We can’t go on together
With suspicious minds
And we can’t build our dreams
On suspicious minds

If you ever find yourself in this state – what I call Code Red – act swiftly, act quickly. Being in a state of boredom, a boredom cocoon, speaks volumes about you and what might have happened to culminate this feeling. You:

are not an opportunist;

are not into self help;

do not thrive on your own company;

should be banned from using the word carpe diam; and

you’re certainly not a blogger.

But I’m here to help you, not judge you. So, here are some reverse tips that you must immediately implement if you find yourself indicating down Bored Street:

everyone has a bucket list – tick something off. If you don’t, make one!

everyone has to do lists – stop procrastinating and tick things off. If you don’t, make one!

everyone wants to dine for dinner solo sometime, tonight is the night! (Note: This only counts if it is a restaurant you actually want to go to and not a place down the road or in a mall serving furry or foreign cuisine to other patrons who are only family members to the owners

no ones mind is too broad – broaden your mind in some beneficial way

no one can never have too much knowledge – teach yourself about something topical

go to a yoga studio or a golf lesson or a cooking class or a dive school or a hotline/helpline call center or some foreign activity that you’ve always wished to claim as your pastime

take up a language

turn up some loud music, learn a new recipe and host a dinner party for friends

then surprise them with your newly acquired shuffle-dance skills

or a surprise magician

make a photo frame wall, preferably filled with photos of times when you weren’t bored

read the Mindfood magazine to get your monthly hit of current affairs, fashion, skincare and arts all in one

go to an art exhibition, or the theatre, or a movie – check out the gift store and buy some memorabilia to always remember the time you dodged boredom

YouTube how to eat with chopsticks if you can’t

DO NOT:

do not get an impulsive tattoo or piercing – irreversible changes to your body should never emanate from boredom. If you feel change is in order then get a trim or colour your eyebrows dark or get a funky-coloured manicure. But don’t let permanent body-related decisions be clouded by the wrath that is boredom

do not share outrageous ideas that are also the result of boredom – that you only thought of when your brain was trying so hard not to be boring – that you will never fulfill. Otherwise you run the risk of being of being not only boring, but a boring person who doesn’t stick to their word. Do however, share such outrageous ideas if you are willing to act upon them. Nothing conquers boredom like a facilitator of fun! (To ease the pain of the realisation that you share impulsive exciting suggestions that never come to fruition – I can sympathise. On a long car journey just the other day I read a “white water rafting” sign and immediately posted on my old flat page that I would organise a white waster rafting expedition for my birthday. This suggestion may have been typed by the boredom that was at the time shooting through my fingers and suffocating any sense of rationality or logic within me – but I decided to not be boring and unnecessarily excite my 12 flat mates only for them to learn we are eating cake and watching Bridget Jones (again) on my birthday, and instead execute the whitewater rafting expedition when November 13 swings around. This sort of thing happens to the best of us.

And all this wisdom was derived from? A restless moment that was determined to cultivate itself in….(believe it or not) boredom, but which I zealously rejected and instead turned into a advice on how to never be bored. Phewf.

This of course has lead to thoughts about the circular motion of boredom, and the word “circular” always leads to thoughts about ongoing spherical fashion cycles. Which has got me thinking that a mere 1 year ago, I had to hold in laughter when passerby’s were sporting sneakers and jeans – schneans. But currently, back with an absolute vengeance, New Balances and jeans are my favourite look (for now anyway). The same goes for boat shoes, backpacks, flares, floral prints et al. The only exception (there is ALWAYS an exception) is high heeled sneakers, which (Kanye and Kim I hope you’re listening), will never, ever be in.

So put the awe in awesome and not the bore in boring and if you find yourself bored, put an awe in bawed – which is urban dictionary for what I’ve just achieved – creating awe for myself out of an almost boring situ – without the need for a moko or stretched ear lobe.

Even if i didn’t want to walk around staring at strangers to find their celebrity-silhouette, I wouldn’t be able to stop it – the talent comes too naturally, it is deeply etched into my brain. 2013 brings with it even more doppelgänger-duos between my stellar friends and star celebs.

With her gargantuan eyes, dimples that could swallow you and fiery red hair, Steph never fails to make men…Buckle at the knees.

I found Steph Buckle’s apparition washed up on the shore of Hollywood Boulevard. Apparently she goes by the name of Angelina Jolie and spends her free time collecting every flavour of child from around the world.

Miss Harriet Weatherburn has graced the Streets of Auckland, Dunedin, and more recently, Copenhagen with her strawb blonde hair, olive eyes and big, white teeth amid her exuberant smile. More recently, there have been reports that Harriet has been strutting her stuff in L.A…

But alas, this is no other than her doppelganger, Jessica Chastain. And before you ask, this is not some sick joke that all gingers look the same – Harriet and Jessica truly do share the same features, with or without their peach-kissed locks.

Robert Watson has been working on the super yachts and sporting fashion-forward spectacles for quite some time now –

Rumour has it, some die-hard fan has been mimicking his style, assuming the same round-rimmed glasses and even undertaking acting roles in Pirates of the Caribbean just to follow Robert’s ways. Supposedly he goes by the name of Johnny Depp.